According to the class handout, An Informal Literary Theory Checklist, Feminist Criticism concentrates on the following themes: women’s political and literary rights; empowerment; equality; women’s unconscious selves; and finally the throwing off of the patriarchal repression and oppression (3). Kate Chopin wrote “The Awakening,” to show people of the nineteenth century society and the future generations, how hard women struggled to overcome their conflicting emotions and the oppression of society’s tradition to become more than just personal property for men to control. Stated best by Mademoiselle Reisz: “the bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth (Chopin 106).” Even though Mademoiselle Reisz was referring to Edna’s decision to separate from her husband, the bird represents every woman, in each generation, who have a firm desire to rebel against the traditional and conventional way of thinking.
Feminist criticism portray women in literature as the most important forms of ‘socialization,’ since it dictates to society, what constitutes acceptable versions of the ‘feminine’ and legitimate feminine goals and aspirations (Barry 122). All throughout “The Awakening,” Kate Chopin shows examples of how women should and should not act in society, in their homes, and with their husbands. In Edna Pontellier’s adopted society, women are viewed more valuable when they conform into the mother-woman role. The mother-woman role is another form of men control, because it dictates how women should idolize their children, worship their husbands, and honor their isolated but inferior positions (29).
“The Awakening,” was written in 1899, when women demanded higher education, to keep up with the men’s professional and political world (Elaine Showalter 207). I believe Kate Chopin wrote this book to be a catalyst for the Feminine movement, by using Edna Pontellier as an example, to show how strong women must be to overcome men’s dominant control, to achieve their ultimate desires. According to Showalter, Edna’s “unfocused yearning” for an independent life is similar to Kate Chopin’s yearning to write works that go beyond feminine endings (204). Emily Toth labeled Kate Chopin as “a pioneer in her own time,” even though men condemned “The Awakening,” for contradicting the views of a male-dominated society by openly portraying how important women desire independence and control of their own sexuality (A Woman Ahead of Her Time 2)
Kate Chopin is not alone in the Feminist movement against the male dominate world. Other famous writers, women, and other important figures took the stand against the injustice of male-domination, by using creative and personal ways to obtain the society’s attention and to encourage change. In March 1777, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, on the subject of women’s rights and the importance for women to obtain and education (Furtwangler 473). In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton help create the Declaration of Sentiment, which is similar to the Declaration of Independence, by stating that women are also created equal under the eyes of God (Wellman 861). Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Garden of Eden,” which portrays a female dominating her marriage to get what she deeply desires. Harriet Jacobs wrote about her life as a slave, who sacrifices her motherhood for the sake of freedom from the cruelness of Slavery and for her children’s future. All these famous people sacrifice their lifestyle, and reputation to help eliminate the injustice and prejudice which corrupts the American Dream for every person in our generation.
“The Awakening” pales in comparison to Earnest Hemingway and Harriet Jacobs’ novels, because the main character, Edna, committed suicide for fear of facing the possibilities of the unknown future. I wanted to see how far Edna would go, to obtain her freedom from the confinements of traditional rules. What is the point of this story, when the main character commits suicide out of fear? Actually, what is the point of Edna complaining about her marriage, when she lives in a comfortable house and gave birth to two beautiful children with her devoted husband? Due to her suicide, I have to label Edna as crazy, for leaving her children under the influence of a male dominating world, for a lost love.
As a result of my generation’s influence, I cannot see myself committing suicide and leaving my children helpless in a cruel and corruptible world. Instead, I would fight for my children, my independence, and my right as an American woman like all the other brave individuals who came before me. There is no good reason, for any person to commit suicide, when things does not go exactly according to plan. Out of the three books, the only character who has more of a right to kill herself was Linda, the main character in Harriet Jacobs’ novel. She sacrificed her privilege as a mother, by running and hiding from her slave master, so she could find a better way to obtain her physical and spiritual freedom from the cruelness of slavery. After all the lies, years sacrificed, and reaching Northern states for her freedom, Linda could have been forced by the Fugitive Slave Law back to the perverted hands of her slave master in the south.
Compared to Linda’s life, Edna had more privileges and freedoms than a southern slave girl. Even though Edna lost the joy of life, she had the money, the freedom, and the means to improve her lifestyle. What did Linda have? Nothing, but fear of being discovered hiding in her grandmother’s house and the consequences of her actions. So, what did Edna, have to complain about? The loss of a lover, the confinement of society’s rules, the emotional confusion surrounding her life, or the lack of freedom to enjoy her unconventional hobbies. Is this enough reason to commit suicide? I think not.
Maybe comparing Edna’s life to Linda’s, is a little bit unfair. So, how about Earnest Hemingway’s main character, Catherine, in “The Garden of Eden?” According to the Preface of “The Garden of Eden,” Catherine is very envious of her husband’s success as a writer and yearns to change her gender (viii). Throughout the novel, the reader could see how manipulative and demanding Catherine is toward her husband, when she wants to act and dress like a man. Even though Catherine has a financial influence with her husband, she uses the trump card of love, to get what she wants. In a sense, the man is playing by woman’s rules. Why can’t Edna turn the tables on her own husband, to gain what she desire the most, physical love?
Of the two kinds of women in the feminist world, whose personality is stronger to confront the injustice and prejudice of my generation? In fact, what personality is more dominated in women of the 21st century? Passive or Aggressive? I think women, in my generation are more aggressive in their lives, because of lazy men running away from their responsibilities. Is the Feminist movement the cause for men to become lazy in their roles as compatible mates for working women?
Work Cited
Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory. Second Edition. Manchester U Press, 2002.
Bickley, Bruce. An Informal Literary Theory Checklist- Feminist Criticism. Class Handout. Received 01-01-2007
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Second Edition. Bedford/St. Martin’s: New York, 2000
Furtwangler, Albert. “Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams.” Eighteenth Century Handout: Mount Allison University. Received 01-01-2007
Hemingway, Ernest. The Garden of Eden. Scribner: New York 1986
Jacobs, Harriet. “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself:” Ed. Nellie Y. McKay and Frances Smith Foster: W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 2001
Showalter, Elaine. Tradition and the Female Talent: The Awakening as a Solitary Book. Feminist Criticism Essay. Second Edition. Bedford/ St. Martin’s: New York, 2000
Toth, Emily. “A Woman Ahead of Her Time.” Accessed 3-19-2007. http://www.angelfire.com/nv/English243/Chopin.html
Wellman, Juditih. Elizabeth Cady Stanton 1815-1902.” State University of New York at Oswego. Received 01-01-2007
